Sending messages via terminal to other users

Question

Level 1

8 points

Sending messages via terminal to other users

I would like to know if there is a way I can send a message via terminal or perhaps any other program that is not chat to another user on my network. I know I can go into terminal type write [user] and I can then send them messages but they have to have the terminal window up. What I would like is for a message box or something to pop up.
Is this possible?
Thanks.

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Mar 10, 2007 8:48 AM

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Answer 1

Zerwas

Level 4

1,154 points

Mar 10, 2007 11:07 AM in response to dukebd711

You can use the internal mail system. E.g echo text | mail user. Or use the standard input:
mail user
subject:
text
.

The messages are stored in the path: /var/mail/user

If you want an notification for mail, configure an xinetd comsat service for biff.

And when the user open a terminal session, he gets a message: new mail

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Answer 2

dukebd711 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2007 3:14 PM in response to Zerwas

So there is no way to send a message to someone without using the terminal to see the message?
i.e. a notification window pops up on the desktop to display the message
Thank you.

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